Originally Posted by eweissenbach View Post
Correct me if I'm wrong, (probably unnecessary phrase), but don't southern Baptists require that one be baptized in their church in order to be a member, even if they have previously been baptized in another Christian denomination? If so, doesn't that imply that baptism in other churches is invalid according to their beliefs? If that is the case, how do you feel about all those wasted years, and the ones you left behind, in those other denominations that you now must belief are destined to not be saved?
Response by Dawn Marie: No, SB do NOT believe that. If they did, I wouldn't be there. Some groups do tho. One baptism is all that is necessary and it's ONLY a witness or profession of faith. You may be thinking infant baptism vs adult or believer's baptism tho. SB would NOT recognize an infant baptism because it's not seen anywhere in Scripture. But even so you can still worship even if you were baptized as an infant. They would just insist you be baptized in order to join
Many of the groups I was involved in were cults and I would say are actually dangerous..spiritually speaking. Nice, nice people but very deceived. I don't believe any of my past years were wasted in these "off" groups though. I have so much knowledge in what they believe in and have been very instrumental in helping others wade thru the muck comparing these religions with what Scripture actually teaches.
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I wouldn't presume to "improve" on Dawn Marie's response, but I would like to add my perspective.
1. Southern Baptists do not believe that you must be baptized to be saved.
2. Each Southern Baptist church is an independent, autonomous entity, operating at various levels of "congregational" self-government. They may or may not belong to a local, regional association and/or the Southern Baptist Convention. However, membership in these organizations does not give either the power to dictate how their church is governed.
3. In that light, each church may set its own standards for membership. A profession of trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the payment to God for their sins is mandatory. If they have previously been baptized in a church of "like faith and manner" they may become a member of the church without being baptized again. If their baptism was otherwise, such as infant baptism, they must be baptized in order to become a member of the local congregation. Baptism is seen simply as a public expression of their faith.
This may be a poor analogy, but think of it as similar to the initiation rites of a fraternity.
4. The baptism requirement does not, as you assume, imply that prior baptisms were "invalid" because Southern Baptists do not believe that baptism confers salvation. Prior baptisms were simply initiations into other denominations. Southern Baptists accept the salvation, with a notable exception, of virtually all Christian faiths where trust in Jesus is the central tenet.
5. What is the exception? you wonder. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have a view of the personhood of Jesus which is contrary to scripture. Without going too much into detail I'll just say that Mormons believe that God created multiple worlds and each world has people living on it. They also believe that multiple Gods exist but each has their own universe. We are only subject to our God and if we obtain the highest level of heaven we can become gods ourselves.
6. And, of course, Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christians. They deny that Jesus is divine. They believe Jesus was "God's first creation" which means he is not God.
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In my 30s a few of my best friends were Jehovah's Witnesses and I have many cousins in Tampa who are active in that faith to this day. They are highly principled and nice people.
Some of my closest friends in the Secret Service are Mormons. They are kind, ethical people. When I was on the advance team for President Nixon's visit to the Mormon Tabernacle I worked with security personnel there and instantly developed several friendships.
However, sadly, I think their theology is mistaken.
It does not make me happy, but I am not in control.
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